Electric-lamp fixture.



F. KRATZ.

ELECTRIC LAMP FIXTURE. I APPLICATION FILED` OCT. `23. ISIS. 1,180,658. Patente-a Apr. 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I F. KRATZ.

ELECTRIC LAMP FIXTURE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23|-l9l3- 1 1 80,658 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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rnANz KRATz, oF STUTTGART, GERMANY,` AssiGNoR To THE FIRM or ROBERT rosen,

. or STUTTGART, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC-LAMP FIXTURE.

To all whom t may concern: v

Be it known that I, FRANZ KRATZ, aA subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Stuttgart, Schlossstrasse 59, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Lamp Fixtures; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,l clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to electric lamp fixtures particularly applicable for incandescent lighting on the dash boards and i5 similar places of automobiles, and in other installations such as boats. In these cases,

a compact and simple xture is required,'and the lamp should be protected against breakage. Furthermore, the electrical connection to the lamp should be reliable so as to withstand continuedv vibration, and a switch which should be simplek and appropriate is sometimes necessary. In all cases, the xture shouldbe capable of easy assembly and ready disassembly.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form and several modifications within my invention, all being designed to meet the conditions hereinbefore mentioned. In the drawings Figure 1 represents one iorm of a lamp fixture, principally in longitudinal section; Fig. 2 represents another form of lamp fixture, principally in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 represents a lamp fixture somewhat similar t0 Fig. 1, but having a central spring contact; Fig., 4 represents another form lof lamp fixture, somewhat similar to Fig. 2,'but having a modified form of switch; Fig. 5. representsl a 40 view principally showing the switch of Fig. in its 'open position; Figs. 6 and 7 are sectionsl on lines 6 6 and 7-7, respectively,

of Fig. 4;; Fig. 8 represents aview principally showing they switch of Fig. 4: in its closed position; Fig. 9 represents a'longin tudinal section of a threaded plug with a cable connection for a lamp fixture; Fig. 10 represents in elevation a lamp fixture with its supporting bracket; and Fig. 11 reprei sents a side view ofthe supporting l'racket.

Fig. 12 showsa modification of the switch. All the embodiments shown herein have a tubular shaped incandescent lamp m inclosed in a glass cylinder n. This cylinder is suitably held in an outer protecting frame f of. metal which has a plurality of outlets Specification of Letters Patent.

the conical surface of. the flange a.

Patented-Apr. 25, i916.

Application led October 23, 1913. Serial No. 796,751.

Z for the1 light of a lamp. The cylinder may be of colored glass and in some cases itl may be preferably of different colors at the different outlets.

In Fig. 1 the frame f is screwed fast on a metal plug b which serves both for fas-- tening to the bracket support a and for connectingto an electric supply cable fw', as shown in Fig. 9. The bracket support a liasa slotted eye and is provided with a conical annular flange a. A reduced extension of the plug b passes through this eye and is secured-in place by a nut p having a laterallyy extending flangebearing on The plug Z) is screw threaded internally to en# gage the metal p'lug a which has an interior conical cavity adapted to force the conical shaped slotted sleeve 1w of .metal into intimate contact with the sheath forming one conductor of the concentric conductor cable *l The sheath of the cable terminates at w. the insulation extending within the sleeve w, while the stranded core of the cable passes through a member lv which is insulated from the sleeve fw as shown. The wire strands are spread out and are forced into 'intimate contact with the insulated contact c of metal when the' plug is screwed into place, while at the same time'the slotted cylinder w is clamped around the conducting i sheath of the cable. A spring d' vpresses against an internal flange in the plug b and against the socket of the lamp m, thereby electrically connecting the sheath of the cable/w to that terminal of the lamp filament which is connected to the lamp socket. Thus since the other terminal of the lamp filament is electrically connected to the insulated metal contact c', the filament becomes connected to the supply circuit when the col operative contacts c and c are brought into engagement. The electrical connection between the socket of a lamp and the plug b is improved by use of a metal ring y having three projections .e in contact with the socket, the ring being soldered to the spring d.

The outer end of the lamp rests against the spring pressed abutment i which in' Fig.

l passes through the flanged end h of the frame and terminates, in a. switch handle.

The abutment is recessed as shown in order to accommdate the glass tip of the lamp. The spring d is stronger than the opposing spring d, so that when the switch handle i is allowedto moveiongitudinally, the cooperative contacts@ and c'l are pressed into intimate engagement, to establish 'the elec-V pressure of the spring dffand the spring d. thcnscparates the 'coperatlve contacts c and c". A pin projecting inwardly from' 'the `traine f into the inclined slot la causes a turning movement of the switchhandle t' to eli'ect a; longitudinal shifting movement of the abutment and-lamp. The lamp is sup ported in the frame, as shown, and is' subjected to longitudinal pressure between the1 4springs cl'and d- The enlarged end g of the frame has a hexagonal Voutline so as t0 be readily turned for dismantlmg the xture. In Fig-2, the terminals of thelilaheld .4 supper ment are electrically connected to the individual insulated contacts at the two ends of the lamp. The contact c is permanently seated.` in the insulated contact o of vthe frame, the latter contact being electrically connected to the core of the cable w', as will he understood from the previous description of Figs. i and 9. The insulated contact of at the other end of the lamp is permanently seated in. the insulating block g. This block is mounted toslidern the central'bore oi' the switch handle e', and is spring pressed therefrom by the spring r. In Fig. 2, the switch handle e"- occupiesits inner or closed position, and the conducting part of the switchhandie is in engagement with the con-tact o. Thus the .circuit is completed through the lamp filament. To interrupt this circuit the switch handle e' turned against the pressure oi the spri M l" until the conducting portion oi" the switch handle is moved longitudinally out of engagement with the contact c. ihe inhabiting block g will still be inst the contact, and will therefore the lamp. n shown in Fig. 3 is simil, excepting that there is `arbon contact cslidably The ca lar to'tliat oi provided a een mounted Vin spring pressed strom au abutment in electrical connection with the core 'of' cable fw.

This construction does not require the spring d of Fig. l, the spring d moving the lamp longitudinally whenthe 'switch handle z' is l turned from its closed. position as shown to the position at which the insulated contact o of thelamp out of engagement with the 'contact c..

The lamp xture'oi Fig. 4 diiiers from Fig. 2 principally in the construction of the switch. As shown in Figs. 4 to 8, the switch consistsessentially of-an abutmentz' of metal spring pressed from the end of the frame by the spring d. The insulating block g is y arranged` to slide4 in a central bore of the.v .switchf in response to the pressure of spring y r.. 'The switch is provided with two inten.

y secting surface grooves, a wide groove .v una.

q .holds the lamp fast, as shown in the drawj ing; but when the switch handle 1s turned l a oompletelamp Afiniture 'of the form similar longitudinal movement.

small notches o and large r of projections.'

an insulating bushing and a narrow groove t. An intermediate all Yhavii'ig a rlb u of triangular section is permanently mounted opposite these groves,1 y and it has a circular opening at its `center,7o for the projection therethrough of the lamp? contact c". -lVhen the rib u engages the narrow groove t the switch i isforced back to its open `position and the `iruiulating" bloch to its closed position, the wide groove `a `snaps over,` the rib u and the switchfi is moved 'longitudinally inward by the spring" lf until` the conducting portion of the switch l. engages the Contact cf and lthereby com-` pletes .the electric circuit through the lamp iilament. y y Fig. 10 shows Vthe outward appearance ci? v to that shown in Figs.' 2, 3 and li; When a switch is not'required, the construction will be simplified .but without effecting the sence of the other features of this invention. In Fig. .l2 a modification of the'switch is shown by which the necessity is avoided of A shaft carrying a handle u! is provided with projoo tions s engaging grooves 'g in a cup t. CupZ is provided with anges fn, having notches p cop-` crating withV stationaryl projections la., Whenthe handle is turned alternately the small notches snap onto the extreme points of the l projections and the large. notches onto the entire y rejections, thereby shifting thecup longitudinally. By this means groove g is likewise shifted longitudinally Thus the shaft need only l perform rotary movements and can be, se-l10 5 cured against ongitudinal movement. The y cli'ect of this modification is toavoid the introduction of water which may'ffibe splashodonto the switch andwhich iseasily, drawn in to` the interior4 by' longitudinal` movements of the switch handle, the same not being' the oase where the handle lis onlyV ,d rotated. y 1` A" liaving thus described my invention, what .I claim is y l. Vfthe-combination with a multiple' con-` doctor cable, of an incandescent lamp., lamp inclosing frame providing a support for one end ofthe lamp, a cable connector fastening the cable to the frame, and a switch providing a support for the other end of the lamp; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a multiple Yconductor cable, of an incandescent lamp, lamp inclosing frameproviding a support for one end ofthelamp, a cable `cormector 'fastening the cable to 3. The combination with' a concentricconductor cable, of an` electric lamp xture comprising a bracket support, an 1ncandescent lamp, a lamp-inclosing frame having a conducting portion electrically connected toone terminal of the lamp filament and also having a contact insulated from said conducting portion and electrically connectedl to the other terminal of the lamp filament, and a connecting device for forcing one conductor of the cable into engagement with the conducting portion of switch providing a support for the. other end of the lamp; substantially as described. In 'a lamp xture for electric circuits, an incandescent lamp having an insulated terminal and another terminal electrically connected to one terminal of the supply circuit, a lamp-inclosing frame, and a switch comprising a movable `conducting portion spring pressed toward said insulated terminal and electrically connected to the other terminal of the supply circuit, an insulating member carried by the movable conducting portion and spring pressed therefrom against said insulated contact, and means for moving the movable portion in the frame into engagement with the insulated contact to thereby complete the circuit to the lamp; substantially as described. l

6. In a lamp fixture for electric circuits, an incandescent lamp having an insulated terminal and another terminal electrically connected to one terminal of the supply circuit, a lamp-inclosing frame, vand a switch comprising a movable conducting portion spring pressed toward said insulated contact and electrically connected to the other terminal of the supply circuit,an insulating member carried by the movable conducting portion and spring pressed therefrom against said insulated contact, and means for bringing the movable conducting portion in the frame into engagement with the insulated contact to thereby complete the circuit to the lamp; substantially as described.

7. In a lamp fixture for electric circuits, an incandescent lamp having an insulated terminal and another terminal electrically connected to one terminal of the supply circuit,y a lamp-inclosing frame, and a switch comprising a conducting portion spring pressed toward said insulated termlnal and electrically cor. `iected to the other terminal of the supply circuit, an insulated member spring pressed from the movable conducting portion and supporting one end of the lamp, and means for moving the movable conducting portion in the frame into engagement,

with the insulatedv contact to thereby Complete the circuit to the lamp; substantially as described.

8. In a lamp ixture for electric circuits,

an incandescent lamp having an insulated terminal a lampinclosing frame, a rigid abutment in the frame, and a switch having a longitudinally movable portion with intersecting grooves adapted to coact with said abutment, said grooves being designed to 'permit the conducting portion of the switch to engage the insulated contact at one position and to be insulated therefrom at an other position; substantially as described.

9. In a lamp xture for electric circuits, an incandescent lamp having an insulated terminal, a lamp-inclosing frame, a rigid abutment in the frame having an opening exposing the insulated terminal and also having an outstanding rib, and a switch having a spring pressed movable conducting portion with intersecting surface Igrooves adapted to engage said rib and also havlng a spring pressed insulating member, said grooves being designed to permit the conducting portion of theswitch to engage the -insulated contact at one position and to be insulated therefrom by the insulating member at another position; substantially as described.

10. .In a lamp fixture for electric circuits, an incandescent lamp having an insulated terminal,` a lamp-inclosing frame, arigid abutment in the frame having an opening exposing said insulated terminal and also having a diametrically-disposed rib, and a switch designed to move longitudinally in the frame and comprising a spring pressed movable conducting portion with a narrow groove and a broad deep groove intersecting the narrow groove, an insulating member carried by the movable portion and spring pressed therefrom, and means for turning said movable portion to bring the deep groove into engagement with the rib to thereby engage the movable portion and the insulated terminal and also to bring the narrow groove into engagement with the rib to thereby disengage the movable portion and the insulated terminal; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

, FRANZ KRATZ.

`Witnesses PAUL VoLrAsT, .HERMANN SCHNEIDER. 

